Companies headquartered in Bucharest conducted international trade operations worth €53.2 billion in the first ten months of 2024, accounting for 29.2% of Romania’s total foreign trade, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) as of October 31, 2024.
In terms of regional trade contributions, Bucharest remains the dominant economic hub, significantly surpassing all other counties. Ilfov follows with 8.3%, while Timiș (7.7%), Argeș (6.1%), Brașov (4.0%), Cluj (3.6%), Dolj (3.4%), Prahova (3.4%), Arad (3.3%), and Alba (3.2%) round out the top ten contributors.
Exports: Capital’s Firms Drive National Sales Abroad
During the analyzed period, Bucharest-based companies exported goods worth €16.2 billion, representing 20.9% of Romania’s total exports. Timiș follows with 9.3%, ahead of Argeș (8.1%), Ilfov (5.7%), Brașov (5.0%), Dolj (4.5%), Arad (4.3%), Alba (4.0%), Prahova (3.5%), and Sibiu (3.3%). Together, these ten counties accounted for 68.6% of national exports, leaving the remaining 32 counties with a combined share of just 31.4%.
The top ten exported product categories from Bucharest include:
- Machinery, appliances, and electrical equipment (26.7%)
- Vegetable products (14.9%)
- Mineral products (14.5%)
- Chemical industry products (7.1%)
- Food, beverages, tobacco (6.3%)
- Base metals and related articles (5.4%)
- Vehicles and transport equipment (4.7%)
- Optical instruments and apparatus (3.4%)
- Textiles and articles thereof (3.3%)
- Arms and ammunition (2.9%)
These ten categories comprised 89.2% of Bucharest’s total exports, highlighting the capital’s strength in industrial and high-value-added sectors.
Imports: Bucharest Accounts for Over One-Third of National Demand
On the import side, the concentration is even higher. Between January 1 and October 31, 2024, companies based in Bucharest imported goods worth €36.9 billion, making up 35.2% of Romania’s total imports.
The ranking of counties with the highest import volumes places Ilfov second (10.3%), followed by Timiș (6.5%), Argeș (4.5%), Cluj (3.8%), Brașov (3.3%), Prahova (3.3%), Constanța (2.7%), Arad (2.6%), and Alba (2.6%). Collectively, these top ten counties accounted for 74.8% of national imports, leaving the remaining 32 counties with just 25.2%.
The leading import categories for Bucharest-based companies were:
- Machinery, appliances, and electrical equipment (22.1%)
- Chemical industry products (17.0%)
- Mineral products (10.6%)
- Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and transport equipment (8.3%)
- Food, beverages, and tobacco (8.0%)
- Base metals and related articles (6.1%)
- Textiles and articles thereof (5.3%)
- Plastics, rubber, and related products (3.8%)
- Vegetable products (3.4%)
- Miscellaneous goods and products (3.4%)
These top ten import categories accounted for 88.0% of Bucharest’s total imports, underscoring the city’s role as the country’s primary gateway for industrial and consumer goods.
Bucharest remains Romania’s economic powerhouse, leading both imports and exports with a dominant share of national trade. The capital’s businesses not only drive industrial production and global commerce but also highlight the country’s increasing integration into international markets. With a significant concentration of trade activity, Bucharest’s role in Romania’s economy is more critical than ever, reinforcing its position as the country’s key business and financial hub.
